Page:Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection).djvu/106

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Old men and matrons thronged the street
With gallant youths and maidens sweet,
And all the children too were there,
With rosy cheeks and golden hair,
Gay mingling with the shouting throng
That cheered the soldiery along
Old Boston's narrow, winding street,
In rhythm to the drum that beat
And clarion fife that flung afar
The bold, defiant strains of war;
For every settlement and town
From all the colonies around
Had sent its band of minute men
To fight the hated red-coat then.
Like to a day of perfect peace
That morning's sun illumed the east,
Far out upon the tranquil bay
Flung wide the golden gates of day
And hurled its shafts of rosy light
Against the legions of the night;
And June looked down with happy eyes
From out the azure of her skies,
And nature smiled from field and wood—
Alas! to stain such scenes with blood.

When General Howe that morning bent
His gaze upon the hill intent,
His swarthy visage wore a frown;
He brought his clinched fist fiercely down

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